Excellent and expensive – these are two very common words thrown out by people when they are asked to describe Bose as a brand. Some audio enthusiasts would argue that you can buy a cheaper pair of headphones and still enjoy the same exceptional audio quality. Obviously Bose doesn’t want any of that perception and would prefer people take their products as a whole rather than just the branding alone. The audio veteran aims to prove that with the launch of new headphones products including the Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II.

About the Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II

Apparently, Bose really likes the word “Sound” on their products and likes denoting generations by roman numerals. Bose SoundTrue II is the second generation product in the newly refreshed SoundTrue headphones series. Priced at around $180, they are not exactly on the premium territory (all plastic design) but Bose’s DNA is very present on the design of the standard charcoal model. Compared to the older model, the Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II has a slimmer profile but the ear pads go around your ears rather than just on them making the headphones feel more like earmuffs. You can fold the headphones and put them inside the included carrying case for convenient travel. The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II also has a navy blue variant which shows Bose’s continued momentum to attract younger audiences.

Also like its predecessor, the Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II comes with an inline mic and remote so you can control the flow of your music when connected to an iOS device or have quick access to volume and call shortcuts. The center button has many functions depending on how you press it and what app is currently active. This isn’t new but it is only exclusive to iOS devices. But worry not Android users because Bose finally decided to offer a separate model that is optimized for Android and Samsung devices. The audio cable is detachable but unfortunately it is proprietary which means that a standard audio cable won’t work with the Bose SoundTrue II.

Comfort

Because of the bigger ear pads, the Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II weighs a bit more than the first SoundTrue model but comfort wasn’t sacrificed. Overall, the SoundTrue II still feels very light in weight. Weight distribution matters most and Bose did a pretty good job here.

Performance

The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II might not be Bose’s most premium product but the sound quality is terrific. Very clean and crisp and there are noticeable positive differences if you are listening to lossless audio. The around-the-ear design does help block some noise but it lacks active noise cancellation. You’ll have to go for something like the QuietComfort models if you need that. Bass is rather strong but doesn’t overwhelm so the vast majority should appreciate those dance tracks. It still lags behind the $300 category which is to be expected but it is pretty difficult to find something cheaper but sounding just as good.

Conclusion

Pros:

• Good and balanced audio quality.

• Comfortable ear pads and good weight distribution.

• Bose branding and not ridiculously overpriced.

• Has a variant for Android users.

Cons:

• Proprietary audio cable.

• Flimsy construction.

Verdict:

Basically, Bose created a great sounding pair of headphones that is also quite comfortable but in a fairly cheap and fun package. Like the affordable Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth speaker, Bose wants to sacrifice design and a bit of build quality without compromising on that iconic Bose logo and sound quality. It’s a good strategy but Bose still has lots of competitors and the Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II isn’t exactly the definitive winner. These headphones are definitely worth a test though.

This site is a partner in the Amazon US, CA and Europe S.à r.l. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising
program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising
and linking to Amazon.com/Amazon.ca/Amazon.co.uk/Amazon.de/Amazon.fr